Luminaire



April 1963 w. NlEDER-WESTERMANN 3,086,105

LUMINAIRE.

Filed Jan. 27. 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I" V I I I l I III II 6 5? N m I; IS I I r I 9 g 8 0) III LL- I N I II II I I 9|! 3 I I m 8 I "/1 v I I I 1I N l I v I r? I M I I I I I I '1 I: I'll I I I I I 0 4 I I I I 8 I'.'III I I I I [I I II s 9 II I I I v INVENTOR 8 III I I I II WinifredNiederWesfermunn 7 BY NJ-v J WW 9 AT NEY April 16, 1963 w.NIEDER-WESTERMANN 3,086,105

LUMINAIRE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 27. 1960 April 16, 1963 w.NlEDER-WESTERMANN 3,086,105

LUMINAIRE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 27. 1960 April 1963 w.NIEDER-WESTERMANN 3,086,105

LUMINAIRE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 27. 1960 April 16, 1963 w.NlEDER-WESTERMANN 3, 5

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3,086,105 LUMINAIRE Winfried Nieder-Westermann, Parma, Ohio, assignor toWestinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporationof Pennsylvania Filed Jan. 27, 1960, Ser. No. 5,062 8 Claims. (Cl.240-9) The present invention relates to a novel luminaire structure andhas particular reference to an improved structure of a fluorescentfixture housing and to devices for connecting together continuous rowsof luminaires.

In the past, many disadvantages have been readily apparent in corridorluminaires of a type similar to that herein disclosed. Some of thesedisadvantages were that the ballast channels were visible and cast darkshadows on the ceilings; the tops of the fixtures were open foradmission of dust and bugs; dark areas were present between fixtureswhen mounted in continuous rows; the ends of the fixtures were dark; thefixtures presented a flimsy appearance and yielded poor lightdistribution; the fixtures required time-consuming methods for mountingthe reflectors in the luminaires; and assembly and mounting of theluminaire was rendered diflicult by the inclusion of numerous componentswhich are obviated by the present invention.

United States Patent '0 The present invention is directed to a luminairethat eliminates these disadvantages and provides an attractive, simplyconstructed, and practically useful apparatus.

An object of the invention, therefore, is the provision of a novel andeificient luminaire structure.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel andefiicient device for joining such luminaires in an abutting end-to-endrelationship.

Another object of this invention is to provide a luminaire constructionwhich minimizes dark areas between adjacent fixtures when mounted incontinuous rows.

1 A further object is to provide a luminaire construction having meansassociated therewith for emphasizing continuous and uninterruptedribbons of light when mounted in an abutting end-to-end relationship.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a luminaire having anovel arrangement for furnishing a good brightness distribution allaround the luminaire. Still another object is to provide a fixture withnovel means for hiding the ballast or wiring from direct. view and forreducing or eliminating ceiling dark spots caused thereby.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fixture which is closedin a novel manner to prevent dust and bugs from entering the fixture.

IFurther objects are to provide a plastic shield which prevents bowinginward or outward, which provides hinging along its entire length, andwhich allows for easy mounting and relarnping. I

Another object of the invention is to design a fluorescent typeluminaire which has a reflector and alight transmitting shield that aidsin directing more light downward.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a reflector whichhas a snap-in design, eliminates the need for screws in mounting, and isshaped to provide the best possible reflection.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fixture which issuitable both for ceiling mounting and suspension mounting.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a luminaire with endplates which serve also as lampholder supports and which provide meansfor attaching a novel connector for mounting continuous rows offixtures.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a luminairestructure which has lampholder supports that ice fold into the channelfor shipping or storage and thus provide protection for the lampholder.

On the other hand, an objective of the invention is the provision ofmeans associated with a detachable reflector arrangement for assuringthe retention of a foldable lampholder in its operating position, whendesired.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel connector usedin conjunction with adjacent units of low-mounted luminaires, such asthose described herein, with the connector being of a one-piece designrequiring no preassembly in the shop and no screws to tighten in thefield, that is, a connector which simply snaps into position.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide aconnector which forms tight connections between adjacent luminaires whenmounted and which can be secured simply by twisting the connector endswith a screw driver or similar tool.

Before giving a detailed description of the precise configuration andcooperation of the components of the fluorescent luminaire, a shortenumeration of the major components and the novel method of theirassembly shall be described.

The luminaire structure consists primarily of a channelshaped housinghaving lampholders at each end and having means for holding a reflectorand light transmitting shield thereto. The housing also serves as ameans to mount the ballast. The luminaire fixture generally is supportedfrom the ceiling either by directly mounting it thereon or by suspendingit therefrom by means of stems attached to the housing. The lampholdersupports, in this arrangement, are hingedly connected to side walls ofthe housing so that they can be collapsed for shipping purposes. Slotsare provided in the lampholder supports for receiving novel connectors,provided by the invention, so that luminaire housings may be joinedend-toend to form ganged sections of fixture housings. The shield orclosure is so made that its flanges fit over edges of the housing inorder to eliminate any need for the conven tional nut-bolt connectionsor other fasteners. Additionally, the shield is shaped to provide animproved lightdistribution and to conceal ceiling dark spots caused bythe ballast or other opaque components of the luminaire. The presentinvention also provides plastic end covers which can be either lighttransmitting or opaque, or partially opaque and light transmitting sothat the desired degree of light can be obtained at the ends of theluminaire to present a desirable appearance.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the. invention willbecome more apparent upon consideration of the following detaileddescription of illustrative embodiments thereof when taken inconjunction with the attached drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C constitute a tripartite side elevational view of aluminaire constructed according to the invention, with parts in sectionand other parts broken away in order to illustrate the invention moreclearly;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the luminaire taken alongreference line II-II of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the luminaire including the lampholdersupports and lampholders;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of an end of the luminaire with thelight-transmitting shield mounted on the housing and with the end coverready to be assembled to the shield;

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the luminaire with a connectorand reflector of the invention shown in a ready-to-be-assembledrelationship and with the lamp holders shown in its shipping (dottedlines) and operative positions;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view, with parts removed and brokenaway, of two adjacent luminaires mounted end-to-end and secured togetherby the connector and with the shield or closure members of one of theluminaires being partially assembled;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the central portion of the luminaireshowing one center lampholder support in a shipping position and anothercenter lampholder support in an operative position;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, of the centralportion of a luminaire as shown in FIG. 7, but with the reflectors andshields being assembled;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the connector of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the connector of the invention; and

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the connector of the invention.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, it can be seen thatthe luminaire of this invention has a generally rectangular form.Housing 10 is an inverted channel-shaped member from which are suspendedinwardly connected lampholder supports 12 and 14 which in turn supportthe lampholders 70 and the fluorescent lamps 74 as described hereinafterin greater detail.

The lampholder supports 12 are mounted on the opposide ends of theluminaire, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C. In the more lengthy luminaires,additional lampholder supports 14 are mounted in a back to backrelationship in the middle of the housing 10. The details of thestructure of these elements are described later. Both the housing 10 andthe lampholder supports 12 can be made of any suitable material, such assheet steel. Supported also from this housing 10 is a plastic shield orclosure member 16. This shield 16 is attached to the housing without theuse of screws, bolts, or the like. 'FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C form what isknown in the art as a tandem rapid-start luminaire. The luminaireillustrated by these figures contains two lamps 74 supported in tandemand includes the back-to-back lampholder supports 14 as shown. FIGS. 1Band 1C, the opposite end portions of the luminaire, also illustratedecorative end covers 18, preferably made of a plastic material andwhich are described in more detail later.

The housing 14), as clearly illustrated in FIG. 2, is of a generallyinverted U-shaped configuration having a bight portion 20 and side walls22. Extending along the entire length of the side walls 22 and outwardlytherefrom are flanges 24 which in turn have upwardly directed edges 26extending therefrom, the purpose of which is described below. Thishousing 10 is preferably of a one piece construction, with flanges 24and edges 26 thereof formed by bending the material used to the desiredshape.

Fitting in the inverted U--portion of the housing is a ballast assembly28 which is secured to the bight portion 20 of the housing by anyconventional means such as nuts and bolts 30.

The plastic shield 16 is fashioned of any desired lighttransmittingresilient plastic material, such as polystyrene and the like, and isadapted to fit over the upturned edges 26 of the housing 10. Toaccomplish this, the shield 16 has downturned flanges 32 in registrationwith the edges 26 of the housing in the operative position of theshield. These flanges 32 extend from side walls 34 of the shield 16.Connecting these sides walls 34 is a concave bight portion 36. Thisbight portion 36 serves to concentrate the rays of light so as to directmore light downwardly.

The mounting of the shield 16 is clearly shown in FIG. 6. To attach theshield 16, the flange 32 of the far side of the shield is hooked overthe corresponding edge 26 of the housing 10. The shield 16 is then swungupward until it covers the inner part of the housing 10 completely, andwith a slight horizontal push on the free side wall 34 toward the farside of the housing the free flange 32 of the shield 16 can be droppedinto engagement with the edge 26 on the near side of the housing It Thiscan be accomplished because when the flange 32 of the far side is pushedflush against the far side wall 22 of the housing 10 the spacing is suchthat the flange 32 on the near side just clears the edge 26 of thehousing 10. The above mentioned horizontal push then engages the freeflange 32 over the near edge 26 and moves the far flange 32 towards thefar edge 26. Thus, when in its operative position, the flanges 32 areeach seated in the space on each side of the housing 10 formed by eachhousing side wall 22 and each edge 26.

The resiliency of the shield 16 will allow for some flexing of the sidewalls 34 if needed to engage or disengage the shield 16 and the housing10, but the present luminaire is so designed that such flexing will notnormally be necessary. For servicing the units, the shield will hangsafely from either side in the relationship illustrated in FIG. 6. Thereflectors 40 of the adjacent luminaires shown in FIG. 6 have beenremoved to more clearly illustrate the remaining parts. However, thereflectors 40 when mounted in this arrangement appear substantially thesame as that shown in FIG. 8, which illustrates adjacent reflectors inthe central portion of longer luminaires.

The outwardly extending flanges 24 of the housing 10 have lanced tabs 38as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. A reflector 40 is generally of aU-shaped configuration and at its upper extremities has outwardlyextending edges 42 which are engaged with the inwardly directed lancedtabs 33 of the housing It The reflector 40, in this example, is formedof successive flat portions 44 each bent with respect to the other so asto form the aforementioned U-shaped configuration. The reflector 40 isso shaped to provide a more efficient and desirable illumination effectand also to make the reflector 40, which is desirably made of aresilient metal, more firmly secured to the housing 10 due to the sidesof the U of the reflector 40 being bent so as to be urged outwardly.

The resiliency of the reflector 40 is shown in FIG. 5 wherein the solidlines of reflector 40 indicate a free position while the dotted lines ofreflector 40 indicate a compressed position. Each end of the reflector40 has a cutout 45 which fits around the central stem-like portion '71(FIGS. Sand 8) of a lampholder '70 so as to aid in maintaining thelampholder 7 d and its support 12 or 14 in their operative positions.The reflector 40 is of a length so as to span the distance or spacebetween cooperating pairs of lampholders 70 and their supports 12 and14. When tandem pairs of lampholders and their supports are mounted in ahousing, two tandem reflectors are employed, one reflector between eachpair of lampholders and supports, respectively.

The reflector 40 fits over and hides the ballast 28 and associatedwiring so as to eliminate any possibility of their casting dark shadowson the ceilings. In addition, the sides 34 of the shield 16 extendalmost to the top of the housing 10 so that any dark areas on theceiling directly above the luminaire are not readily apparent.

The housing 10 serves not only the function of supporting thelampholders 12 and 14, ballast 28, reflector 40, and shield 16, but alsoas the means for suspending the luminaire from a ceiling or mounting itdirectly to a ceiling. Square knockouts 46 and 48, as shown in FIG. 3,are a means for rod or stem mounting in the suspension system. The stemsare not shown in the drawings. The two outside holes 48 are for singlestern mounting and the two inside holes 46 are for twin stem mounting.That is, when only a single luminaire is being mounted twin stems, whichconsists of two identical stems, are secured to the center knockouts 46.However, when a plurality of luminaires are mounted end-to-end, twosingle stems are secured to the first luminaire at the knockouts 48 anda single stem is mounted on the subsequent luminaires at the knockout 43furthest from the first luminaire. The end connection between adjacentluminaires provides the support for the end of a luminaire not supportedby a stem. Two long thin rectangular knockouts or slots 5t? are providedfor direct ceiling mounting. Bosses 49 space the housing from theceiling when mounted di rectly thereto. Other knockouts, such as 52 inthe bight portion 20 of the housing '10, are for line leads and thelike.

An end portion of the luminaire showing the combination and assembly ofthe reflector 40, lampholder support 12, and end cover 18 with thehousing 10 is illustrated in FIG. 4. The end cover 18 is provided withhooked fingers 55 which engage the edges of an opening 53 in end wall 59and which seat on shoulders 57, respectively, of the opening 53. Portion56 has been cut-out of the wall just abovethe shoulder 57. This cut-out56 makes it easier to insert the fingers 55 behind the end wall 59. Theshape of the end cover is made so as to conform to the end wall 59 ofthe shield and to provide a decorative and functional closure therefor.The plastic end cover 18 can be made of a light transmitting or opaqueplastic depending on the results desired. It is more desirable, however,to make the end covers 18 light transmitting for they then will providefor illumination of the otherwise dark ends of the fixture. To mount anend cover it is first centered against the unit end and slightly aboveits normal position and then thrust downwardly to slide it into a secureattachment with the end Wall 59.

The side walls 22 of the housing member 10 are provided with elongatedslots 61 which receive hinging screws 60, as best shown in FIG. 5. Thelampholder supports 12 have flanges or wings 62 by which the hingingscrews connect the tampholder supports to the housing. The lampholdersupports also have inclined flanges or wings 64, so shaped as not tointerfere with the mounting of the reflector 4t). Connected to the lowerend of each of the wings 64 is a base portion 66 which has a T-shapedcut out 68 for receiving a lampholder 70. The lampholders 70 are securedto the supports 12 by means of bolts 72 extending through a leg of thecutout 68 and engaging the lampholder. Fluorescent lamps 74 are, ofcourse, supported by opposing pairs of the lampholders 70. Thelampholder supports 12 are further provided with knockouts '76 in theirend walls 65, which serve to allow wiring 77 to pass through gangedsections of the luminaires.

When received in the shipping carton, the lampholder supports 12 arepivoted about their hinging screws 60 to lie flush against the bightportion 20 of the housing 10. To place a lampholder support in anoperative position, it must first be rotated from its shipping positionto a vertical position, as shown in FIG. 5. While in the shippingposition the hinging screws 60 need be only loosely connected. Anoverlapping flange 58 (FIG. 4) extends from thetop edge of eachlampholder support 12 and rests over the bight portion 20 of the housing10 when a lampholder support 12 is in the operative position. Whenrotated to its vertical position, the lampholder support 12 is then slidcenterward as far as possible, by means of the hinging screws 60 slidingin the elongated slots 61, and the hinging screws are then tightened sothat the flange 58 engages the end of the housing 10 as noted above.

For continuous rows of fixtures, the end of a lampholder support 12 ofone luminaire is placed adjacent to a lampholder support 12 of another.A connector 80, which will be described in more detail later, is thenslipped into engagement with the lampholder supports so that connectortabs or bifurcated ends 82 extend outwardly through the end of onelampholder support by means of elongated rectangular slots or apertures78. When the tabs 82 of the connector are inserted in the slots, aflange 84 of the connector '80 snaps into position over the outside ofthe base '66 of the lampholder support by means of dimples 86, whichengage apertures 87 in base 66 and provides for a snug frictionfit. Thefirst unit A should be installed with the connector tabs 86 pointed in alongitudinal direction as seen in FIG. 6. A succeeding unit B is thenraised into its position and mounted with the ends of adjacent unitsabout it,'and the connector tabs 82 in the slots 78. With a turn of ascrew driver or the like, the tabs 82 are bent and the units lockedtogether. Accordingly, when a number of luminaires are mounted in tandemin an end-to-end abutting relationship, the array of luminaires presentthe appearance of a continuous ribbon of light extending longitudinallyalong the total length thereof.

In certain luminaires, employing a single lamp 74, there are only twolampholder supports 12. But, in longer luminaires there are, forexample, center lampholder supports 14 as illustrated in FIG. 1A andFIG. 7. It will be appreciated, however, that lamps may be also mountedin parallel, employing appropriate lampholders of course, in both theshorter and longer luminaires. FIG. 7 shows two center lampholdersupports 14, one in a shipping position and another in an installedposition. While being shipped, the center lampholders 14- likewise arepivoted upon the hinged screw connection 92 so that they remain flushwith the bight portion 20 of the housing member. When swung down to avertical, or installed position, they are prevented from furtherrotation by means of detents 94 on the sides of the U-shaped bracketportion of the lampholder support 14 which engageapertures 93 or similarindent means in the side walls 22 of the housing member.

The central lampholder supports 14 are generally similar to thelampholder supports 12 employed at the ends of the luminaires, with likeportions having like reference numerals. The central lampholder supportshave eliminated the end wall 65 found in the end lampholder supports 12and have substituted a return flange 96 which serves as a brace andguide for the inserted lampholders 70.

In the longer luminaires two of the shields 1'6 employed in the shorterluminaires are required since the longer ones are generally just twicethe size of the shorter luminaires. The two shields are placedend-to-end (FIG. 8) and meet Where the backs of the center lampholdersupports 14 abut one another. This is where light leakage, if any, wouldbe at a minimum because no part of the lamps 74 is in this immediatearea, the ends of the lamps 74 leaving a blank area.

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 illustrate the details of the connector of thisinvention. FIG. 10 shows the connector 80 to be of generally U-shapedconfiguration with the bottom flange 84 co-extending with bight portionto side members or walls 88 of the connector. The bottom flange 84 isinclined at an angle to the lower edges 91 of the side walls 80 to givea pinching tit and has two dimples or detents 86 which serve to lock theconnector 80 to the apertures 87 of the corresponding lampholder support12, as explained earlier, and as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 9. The bightportion 90 of the connector is cut out at 98 so as to facilitate accessto the lampholder 70 and provide space for the necessary wiring 77 againas seen in FIG. 9'. The legs or side walls 88 of the connector 80 formtabs or bifurcations 82 which serve as the locking portions of theconnector 80 as explained previously. The side walls 88 are also notchedso as .to have shoulders 100 which act as stops to limit the insertionof the side walls into the slots 78 of the lampholder supports. Thebight portion 90 of connector 80 will abut against the edge 65 oflampholder support 12 if the connector is not provided with shoulder-s100, so as to limit movement of the bifurcated ends 82 of the connector80 into the. slots 78. This connector 80 is made of bendable metal sothat the bifurcated ends 82 can be bent with ease by a screw driver orthe like. However, the connector is strong enough to hold the end-toendmounted luminaires in a stable, operating position. Thus, there isillustrated a snap-on connector which is of a one piece design requiringno preassembly in the shop and no screws to tighten in the field sincethe connector simply snaps into position and is bent.

This invention therefore, provides for a corridor type or similarelongated fixture which is inexpensive to produce, which provides anup-to-date appearance and which eliminates many of the disadvantagescommon up to this time. The reflector and luminous ends serve as an allenclosed, extended lighting fixture which minimizes dark areas betweenadjacent luminaires in continuous rows to give an uninterrupted ribbonof light in a much stronger construction than that used previously.Since the shield extends up to the ceiling it provides a good brightnessdistribution all around the luminaire and hides the ballast channel fromdirect view. Because of the way the plastic shield is supported by thehousing, there not only is provided a device which allows for easymounting and relamping, but one that prevents dust and bugs fromentering the fixture and prevents the plastic from bowing inward oroutward.

Since it is obvious that the invention can be embodied in other formsand constructions within the spirit and scope of the invention, as wouldbe apparent to one skilled in the art, it is to be understood that theparticular form shown is but one of such embodiments and with variousmodifications and changes being possible, the invention is not limitedin any way with respect thereto. Moreover, it is to be understood thatcertain features of the invention can be employed without acorresponding use of other features thereof.

Accordingly, what is claimed as new is:

1. In combination, a plurality of luminaires mounted in tandem in anend-to-end abutting relationship, each luminaire comprising a housing,lampholder supports connected at opposite ends respectively of saidhousing with each said support having slots in registration with slotsin an adjacent support of an abutting luminaire, a U- shaped connectorhaving a bight portion and side members joined thereto, a bottom flangeextending from said bight portion and inclined with respect to said sidemembers, said bottom flange frictionally engaging a portion of thelampholder support, and tab portions on the free ends of said sidemembers extending through said registered slots and being bent so as tolock adjacent supports together and thereby to secure said luminaires intandem.

2. A plurality of luminaires mounted in tandem in an end-to-end abuttingrelationship, each luminaire comprising an inverted U-shaped housinghaving outwardly and upwardly extending side flanges, lampholdersupports located at opposite ends of each said housing so as to abutsupports of adjacent luminaires, said supports having a base portion andside wings, said wings connected to opposite side walls of said housing,means in registration with similar means in adjacent supports forproviding a continuous wireway in the abutting luminaires, connectorreceiving apertures in said supports being in registration withconnector receiving apertures in adjacent supports, a U-shaped connectorhaving a bight portion and side members joined thereto, a bottom flangeextending from said bight portion and inclined with respect to said sidemembers, said bottom flange having detents cooperatively engagingindents in said base portion of an adjacent support and tabs on the freeends of said side members extending through said registered aperturesand being bent so as to lock adjacent supports together and thereby tosecure said luminaires in tandem, and a light-transmitting closuremember for each said luminaire with means thereon engaging the saidoutwardly and upwardly extending side flanges of each said housing.

3. A connector adapted to join abutting lampholder supports of adjacentluminaires disposed in an end-to-end relationship, said connector beinggenerally U-shaped having a bight portion and side members, a bottomflange extending from said bight portion and inclined with respect tosaid side members, detents on the inner surface of said bottom flange,said bottom flange frictionally engaging means on one of said lampholdersupports, deformable tab portions extending longitudinally of said sidemembers, and a shoulder portion on said side members serving as a stopelement, said tabs being inserted a predeterminable distance intoregistered apertures of said abutting supports, said shoulder portionengaging said one support and said tab portions being deformed at aposition adjacent the registered apertures on the other of said abuttinglampholder supports.

4. In combination, a plurality of luminaires mounted in tandem in anend-to-end abutting relationship, each luminaire comprising a housing,lampholder supports connected at opposite ends of said housing with eachsaid support having elongated slots in registration with elongated slotsin adjacent abutting supports, a base portion on one of said adjacentsupports, a generally U-shaped connector having a bight portion and sidemembers, a bottom flange extending from said bight portion and inclinedwith respect to said side members, the free end of each of said sidemembers being bifurcated and of bendable material, and shoulder means onsaid side members and spaced from the end thereof for determining thelength of insertion of said bifurcated ends through said registeredslots, said bifurcated ends extending through said elongated slots insaid supports and being bent over while simultaneously said bottomflange interlocks with said base portion, said interlocking bottomflange cooperating with said shoulder means and said bent ends to locksaid luminaires together.

5. In combination, a plurality of luminaires mounted in tandem in anend-to-end abutting relationship, each luminaire comprising a housing,lampholder supports connected at opposite ends of said housing, abuttinglampholder supports on adjacent luminaires forming a junction of a firstsupport and a second support, each said support having slots inregistration with slots in the other, a transveresly extending baseportion on said first support, a connector having stern portions and aflange portion, said stem portions including alignment means extendingthrough the registering slots and said flange portion havinginterlocking means engaging said base portion, said interlocking meansand said alignment means locking adjacent luminaires together, saidalignment means having deformed at a position adjacent the slots in saidsecond support.

6. In a luminaire adapted to be connected to an adjacent luminaire in atandem relationship, the combination comprising an elongated housing,lampholder supports having side portions and a base portion, the sideportions of said supports hingedly connected to said housing, abuttinglampholder supports on adjacent luminaires forming a junction of a firstsupport and a second support, each said support having slots inregistration with slots in the other, means for securing said hingedsupports in an operative position, said last-mentioned means including agenerally U-shaped connector having a bight portion and side members, aflange extending from said bight portion and inclined with respect tosaid side members, a generally complementary portion on one of saidfirst and said second supports frictionally engaged with said flange forpositioning said connector on said one support, said side members beinginserted through said registered slots respectively, and releasablemeans on said side members for securing said side members in theirinserted positions and for retaining said first and said second supportsin their abutting position.

7. A connector adapted to join abutting lampholder supports of adjacentluminaires disposed in an end-to-end relationship, said connector beinggenerally U-shaped having a bight portion and side members, a flangeextending from said bight portion and being generally coextensivetherewith, said flange being inclined with respect to said side membersand frictionally engaging cooperating means located on one of saidabutting lampholder supports, bifurcations extending from the free endof each of said side members, said bifurcations being of deformablematerial so as to be capable of being deformed to prevent removalthereof when said connector is in an operative position with the flangeengaged as aforesaid and said bifurcations extending through registeredapertures in said adjacent supports.

8. In a luminaire adapted to be connected to an adjacent luminaire in atandem relationship, the combination comprising an elongated housing,lampholder supports connected to said housing, means in said supportsfor providing a wire way through adjacent luminaires when in saidrelationship, said supports including apertures disposed forregistration with similar apertures in a support of an adjacentluminaire, a transversely extending base portion on one of said adjacentsupports, a connector having stem portions and a flange portion, saidregistered apertures and said base portion being disposed to receivesaid connector, said flange portion engaging said base portion and saidstern portions being inserted through said registered apertures, saidflange portion and said stem portions of said connector securing saidadjacent supports together by deforming the ends of said stem portionsprotruding through said apertures.

1 0 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,112,247 McLoughlin Mar. 29, 1938 2,316,404 Carter Apr. 13, 19432,329,268 Heath Sept. 14, 1943 2,386,887 Eckel Oct. 16, 1945 2,467,604Tinnerman et al Apr. 19, 1949 2,652,740 Fruth Sept. 22, 1953 2,667,570Goldthorpe Jan. 26, 1954 2,770,435 Becker Nov. 13, 1956 2,825,798Zingone Mar. 4, 1958 2,913,575 Lipscomb Nov. 17, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS844,626 Germany July 24, 1952 1,173,184 France Oct. 27, 1958 OTHERREFERENCES Rotate-End Socket; publication of Crownlite FluorescentCompany, Mineola, Long Island, N.Y., published in Lighting, February1955. (Copy in Div. 53, class 240- 51.11.)

Type BB Luminaires, Figure 1, publication of the Westinghouse ElectricCorporation, Cleveland Plant, Lighting Division, Cleveland, Ohio. (Copyreceived in U.S. Patent Oflice on June 15, 1955.)

1. IN COMBINATION, A PLURALITY OF LUMINAIRES MOUNTED IN TANDEM IN ANEND-TO-END ABUTTING RELATIONSHIP, EACH LUMINAIRE COMPRISING A HOUSING,LAMPHOLDER SUPPORTS CONNECTED AT OPPOSITE ENDS RESPECTIVELY OF SAIDHOUSING WITH EACH SAID SUPPORT HAVING SLOTS IN REGISTRATION WITH SLOTSIN AN ADJACENT SUPPORT OF AN ABUTTING LUMINAIRE, A USHAPED CONNECTORHAVING A BIGHT PORTION AND SIDE MEMBERS JOINED THERETO, A BOTTOM FLANGEEXTENDING FROM SAID BIGHT PORTION AND INCLINED WITH RESPECT TO SAID SIDEMEMBERS, SAID BOTTOM FLANGE FRICTIONALLY ENGAGING A PORTION OF THELAMPHOLDER SUPPORT, AND TAB PORTIONS ON THE FREE ENDS OF SAID SIDEMEMBERS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID REGISTERED SLOTS AND BEING BENT SO AS TOLOCK ADJACENT SUPPORTS TOGETHER AND THEREBY TO SECURE SAID LUMINAIRES INTANDEM.